"Michigan’s police officers and fire fighters joined with House Democrats to help defeat legislation that would dismantle the health care benefits of our first responders and other local government employees. Those who risk their health for our public safety are particularly the ones most deserving of our care and attention. That’s why it was so shocking that House Republicans would attempt to fast-track such a reckless plan to rob public employees of their health care,...

LANSING — Michigan House Democrats will fight back vigorously against attacks on the retiree health care promises made to police, fire fighters and other county and municipal workers in the current lame duck session, Democratic members of the House Local Government Committee said today. Under a 13-bill plan introduced late Wednesday afternoon, retirement health care promises made to local government employees — even ones outlined in labor contracts — will be voided if health care...

LANSING — The Michigan House Democratic Caucus voted today to make Rep. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) the House Democratic Leader for the 2017-2018 session. Rep. Christine Greig (D-Farmington Hills) will serve as the Democratic Floor Leader.

“Our work is as important now as it ever was, and it includes bringing more good-paying jobs to Michigan, making sure that each child in our state gets a world-class education and building an economy that leaves no hardworking...

LANSING — House Democrats resoundingly rejected the state omnibus budget tonight because it fails the families, seniors and students of Michigan. Rather than putting the people of Michigan first, it cuts vital programs and spends $3 million for additional state defense costs related to legal liabilities stemming from the Flint water crisis.

“I would have been happy to vote for a bill that matched the needs of the working families, seniors and young people of...

LANSING — House Democrats were disappointed tonight with the final form of the education budget for Fiscal Year 2016-2017, which passed the House 74 to 34 during another long session. Central among the many issues facing the budget is the unbalanced funding of charter schools and the potentially unconstitutional funding for private schools.

“We had an opportunity to truly invest in public education and our children, instead our precious school dollars are diverted in several...

Dinner with Dignity

Road Funding

When Prop 1 failed across Michigan, it was a clear sign that the Legislature should go back to work to find a comprehensive road funding solution. Soon after, House Speaker Kevin Cotter unveiled his plan to pay for road and bridge repairs with massive cuts across the board.